Device for controlling the locking and unlocking movements of a rotary disk, with a ring gear system and apparatus including the device

ABSTRACT

An improved device for controlling the locking and unlocking movements of a rotary disk ( 10 ) with a ring gear system ( 13, 14 ) and including a screw ( 1 ) and screw-nut ( 6 ) assembly for driving the disk between a locking position and an unlocking position comprises a hydraulic circuit ( 17 ) for controlling the engagement force of the ring gears ( 13, 14 ), or the locking force of the rotary disk ( 10 ), thereby the device allows to perform high speed locking and unlocking movements of the rotary disk, and with the advantage of controlling the ring gear engagement force or effort depending on the masses being driven and the values required by the machining operations which must be carried out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved device for controlling the locking and unlocking movements of a rotary disk, of a type including a ring gear system.

[0002] The invention also relates to an apparatus or machine including such an improved device.

[0003] The field of the invention is that of the machines including devices for locking and unlocking a rotary disk such as, for example, the rotary table of a transfer machine, a rotary-table conveyor, a revolver turret and the like in which, after the rotation, the locking of the rotary disk is performed by means of a ring gear coupling (for example of the HIRT type).

[0004] Are already known in the prior art machines of the above mentioned type, in which the control of the locking and unlocking movements of the rotary disk is performed by a ball recirculating screw and nut assembly which, on a side, operates on the rotary disk and, on the other side, is rotatively driven by a specifically designed motor-reducing unit.

[0005] Thus, as the screw is rotatively operated, the rotary disk is axially driven, with mutual approaching and withdrawing movements between corresponding ring gears, to provide, respectively, the locked and unlocked condition of said rotary disk.

[0006] In prior constructions of the above disclosed type, the axial force for mutually engaging the ring gears, correspondingly to the rotary disk locking operation, is fully or substantially fully provided by the ball recirculating screw and nut assembly.

[0007] Moreover, as the rotary disk has a vertical axis, to the preceding stresses, the weight of the rotary disk is also added, which, consequently, further stresses the mentioned screw and nut driving assembly.

[0008] As a direct consequence of the above disclosed drawbacks, in prior machines of the above mentioned type, the locking and unlocking speed of the rotary disk decreases with an increase of the rotary disk mass itself.

[0009] Furthermore, since the engagement force between the ring gears is fixed and determined by the driving assembly operating the screw and screw nut assembly, this effort may be insufficient as the masses to be driven are comparatively large and, anyhow, in machining operations requiring a maximum locking force by the rotary disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for locking and unlocking a rotary disk, controlled by a screw-nut screw assembly and a ring gear system, designed for providing high speed and properly controlled locking and unlocking movements of said rotary disk.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned type which is very safe and reliable in operation.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved device allowing to properly control and graduate the mutual engagement force of the ring gears, depending on the masses to be driven and the required locking loads.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved device which, as the rotary disk has a vertical axis, is adapted to also support the weight of the rotary disk, thereby releasing the screw and screw nut assembly from the force or effort due to the weight of the rotary disk itself.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device and apparatus according to claims 1 and 10.

[0015] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0016] With respect to prior like devices, the inventive device provides the advantage that it allows to drive with a very high speed the rotary disk for performing its locking and unlocking movements, in addition to properly controlling the engagement force of the ring gears, depending on the driven masses and the machining parameters required by the specific machining operation to be carried out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above mentioned as well as yet other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the device and machine or apparatus according to the present invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, and in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view illustrating the improved device according to the present invention in a locking condition of the rotary disk;

[0019]FIG. 2 illustrates a detail, on an enlarged scale, of an assembly including the cylinder and piston of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 illustrates the device shown in FIG. 1 in an unlocking condition of the rotary disk; and

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a ball recirculating screw 1, one end 3 of which is coupled to a rotary coupling 2, which is in turn driven by a motor 4-reducing unit 5 assembly.

[0023] As shown, the ball recirculating screw 1 is rotatably engaged inside a fixed screw-nut 6, in turn rigid with a driving shaft 7.

[0024] The driving shaft 7 is coupled, through a bearing 8, to the rotary disk or table 10, including a main gear wheel 9, driven by a suitably designed motor-reducing assembly.

[0025] On the surface 11 of the disk 10 facing the machine bed 12, is provided a ring gear 13 (for example of a HIRT type), which can be rotatably driven together with the disk 10.

[0026] On the surface of the machine bed 12 facing the disk 10, is provided a ring gear 14, corresponding to the mentioned ring gear 13, and meshing therewith.

[0027] Thus, as the screw 1 is rotatively driven in the screw-nut 6, the shaft 7 will be axially displaced, together with the disk 10, between the mutual engagement and disengagement positions of the ring gears 13 and 14, corresponding respectively to the locking and unlocking positions of the rotary disk 10.

[0028] To the above-mentioned movements of the shaft 7 and disk 10, provided by the disclosed screw and screw-nut assembly, also contributes the cylinder and piston system better shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] More specifically, the cylinder comprises a cylinder chamber 15, formed inside the machine bed 12.

[0030] In said cylinder chamber 15 is axially slidably received the piston, comprising an enlarged portion 16, directly formed on the body of the shaft 7.

[0031] In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the unlocking of the disk 10, corresponding to the movement of the shaft 7 in the direction of the arrow F2 is provided by micro-cylinders 19, driven by an unlocking hydraulic circuit 20, arranged on the machine bed 12.

[0032] Said micro-cylinders 19 are designed for axially operating against that portion of the cylinder 15 facing the machine bed 12, axially slidably mounted on the piston 16, thereby causing the ring gears 13 and 14 to be driven away from one another.

[0033] In this modified embodiment, the rotary disk 10 is mounted, through a bearing 21, on the cylinder 15.

[0034] As a further possible modified embodiment, the unlocking circuits 18 and 20 could be omitted, and the screw 1 and screw-nut 6 assembly could be also used to move away from one another and disengage the ring gears 13 and 14.

[0035] Such an embodiment can be advantageously applied in rotary disks or tables 10 having a horizontal axis or a small size, the movements of which are affected in a less degree by their weight force.

[0036] The device according to the present invention can be assembled on rotary table machines, in particular transfer tool machines having either a vertical or a horizontal axis. 

1. An improved device for controlling a rotary disk which is driven for performing locking and unlocking movements, with a ring gear system and a screw and nut assembly for driving said rotary disk from a locking position to an unlocking position, characterized in that said device comprises additional control means for controlling an engagement force of said ring gears (13, 14), i.e. for controlling the locking force of said rotary disk (10).
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional control means comprise a hydraulic circuit (17) operating between a piston (16), coupled to said rotary disk (10), and a cylinder (15) fixed to a bed assembly (12).
 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said rotary disk (10) is coupled to a shaft (7) and said piston (16) comprises an enlarged portion of said shaft (7) axially slidably engaged within said cylinder (15).
 4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional control means are designed for counter-balancing the weight of the movable parts of said device as said rotary disk is unlocked.
 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said additional control means comprise, for counter-balancing said weight of said movable parts, a hydraulic circuit (18) operating between said piston (16) and cylinder (15).
 6. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said counter-balancing means comprise a hydraulic circuit (20) driving micro-cylinder (19) controlling the mutual axial displacement of said piston (16) and cylinder (15).
 7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that said rotary disk (10) is rigidly axially mounted on said cylinder (15) through a bearing (21).
 8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the locking position of the rotary disk, a locking circuit (17) adjusts the mutual engaging force of said ring gears (13, 14) depending on the force necessary for the driven masses and depending on the machining being performed.
 9. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in an unlocking operation of said rotary disk, said locking circuit (17) is deactuated and, simultaneously, an unlocking circuit (18) being actuated and that, successively, said screw and screw-nut assembly is driven for mutually disengaging said ring gears (13, 14).
 10. A rotary table machine, characterized in that said machine comprise a device according to claim
 1. 11. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said machine is a transfer rotary table tool machine having either a vertical or a horizontal axis. 